Finding solutions for people she meets has always been an Austin woman's passion, and its now her business, too.

Soluciones, solutions in direct translation, opened its door last November.

The business deals with various issues targeting the Hispanic community ranging from anything relating to immigration, employment to finding a home.

The two-person business serves to help translate and interpret resources.

"I worked for months to set up my business plan, yet I knew exactly that what I wanted to do: to help people," said Maria Acosta, the owner of the Soluciones.

Like others, Acosta said she came to Minnesota for a better life.

The Texas-native arrived in Austin seven years ago. A single mother of three children, she found employment at Quality Pork Processing. After three years at the plant, Acosta knew it was not something that she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

"Even when I worked at QPP, I helped people get familiar that were just arriving. I decided to make my passion a business and make profit out of it," Acosta said.

Acosta was one of the original organizer and coordinator of the Welcome Center when the center it first opened and worked as an assistant to the executive director. But she later decided to resign to be able to do her job with more liberty and pursue her own plans.

After having resigned, people continue to seek her help at her home.

"People kept coming to my house. I said to myself 'I'd better get an office, so the sheriff doesn't start wondering why people kept going in and out of my house," Acosta said in an amused tone.

She looked at different locations and finally found one on Main Street.

"It took me a while to get a location for my office that would be best for all the clients," Acosta said.

The location, at 401 N. Main St., is easy for people to find, Acosta said. All she has to tell them is that it is right across the "Mi Tierra" store.

Once the location was set, Acosta and her son, Angel, worked on making brochures, business cards, advertisements and announcements.

"Even the office decor was planned to make my clients feel more at home," Acosta said of the Mexican-themed decorated office.

Jessica Arriaza, who works as the receptionist, is the only other employee at the business. Acosta said that it is hard just being the two of them and being everywhere for every client. With the amount of work the business has received, Acosta plans to hire another person to help out.

Though Soluciones has only been around for few months, Acosta said she has more than 200 clients.

Future plans go beyond the interpreting and translating aspects for Acosta. She is currently working on putting together a Hispanic Fashion Show sometime in May or June. Acosta has plans for a monthly flea market, where residents can go and sell their crafts,

foods and goods, along with teenage dances and bingo nights.

"Our plans for the future are to make events where families can participate, get to know people in the community … We want to involve the community and make them feel that Austin is truly their home," Acosta said.

Soluciones is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m and is located in the basement at 401 N. Main St.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com